Katana VentraIP

Alto saxophone

The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭, smaller than the B♭ tenor but larger than the B♭ soprano. It is the most common saxophone and is used in popular music, concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, military bands, marching bands, pep bands, carnatic music, and jazz (such as big bands, jazz combos, swing music).

Woodwind instrument

Single-reed

422.212-71
(Single-reed aerophone with keys)

Adolphe Sax

1840s

The alto saxophone had a prominent role in the development of jazz. Influential jazz musicians who made significant contributions include Don Redman, Jimmy Dorsey, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Jackie McLean, Phil Woods, Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, and Cannonball Adderley.


Although the role of the alto saxophone in orchestral music has been limited, influential performers include Marcel Mule, Sigurd Raschèr, Jean-Marie Londeix, Eugene Rousseau, and Frederick L. Hemke.

Range[edit]

As with most saxophones, the alto's written range is B♭3 to F6 (or F♯6),[1] with the higher altissimo register starting at F♯6 (or G6). The saxophone's altissimo register is more difficult to control than that of other woodwinds and is usually only expected from advanced players.


The alto saxophone is a transposing instrument, with pitches sounding a major sixth lower than written. In terms of concert pitches, the alto saxophone's range is from concert D♭3 (the D♭ below middle C—see Scientific pitch notation) to concert A♭5 (or A5 on altos with a high F♯ key).


A few rare alto saxophones, like some Selmer Mark VI models, have been keyed to reach a low A, a semitone lower, similar to baritone saxophones.[2][3]

features it in the "Intermezzo" and "Minuet" from the second suite of music from L'Arlésienne.

Georges Bizet

It was called for by in his Sinfonia Domestica, which includes parts for four saxophones including an alto saxophone in F.

Richard Strauss

uses the alto in his Suite for Variety Orchestra and it has a prominent solo in the "Waltz No. 2" section. He also includes it in his Suite No. 1 and Suite No. 2.

Dmitri Shostakovich

uses the saxophone prominently in his orchestration of Modest Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, most notably as the soloist in "Il vecchio castello".

Maurice Ravel

uses the saxophone in his late orchestral works, most notably "Der Wein", Lulu, and the Violin Concerto.

Alban Berg

uses the saxophone in his Symphonic Dances as a soloist in the first movement.

Sergei Rachmaninoff

includes it in a few pieces; such as Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris.

George Gershwin

wrote for 2 alto saxes in his composition Pli selon pli ("Fold by Fold").

Pierre Boulez

calls for an alto in his Sinfonia da Requiem and The Prince of the Pagodas.

Benjamin Britten

includes an alto sax in his Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Leonard Bernstein

enlists two altos in his opera Fervaal.

Vincent d'Indy

writes for an alto in La Creation du Monde, and places it in the score where one would expect to see a viola.

Darius Milhaud

makes use of an alto in his 16th Symphony.

Allan Pettersson

scores for two altos in his opera The Devils of Loudon ("Die Teufel von Loudon").

Krzysztof Penderecki

includes an alto in his ballet Gayane.

Aram Khatchaturian

includes a significant solo for the alto saxophone in his orchestral suite Concerto in Pieces.

Poul Ruders

wrote for an alto in his 1936 Saxo-Rhapsody.

Eric Coates

features an alto in his Rhapsody for Saxophone and Orchestra.

Claude Debussy

wrote a concerto for the alto, a sonata with piano, and a rapsodie with organ. He also included it in a suite for saxophone quartet.

Paul Creston

wrote a concerto for the alto saxophone in E-flat major (1956)

Ronald Binge

includes an alto in his ballet Is There Survival (also known as King Vahaken) and as part of incidental music he wrote to accompany the play The Flowering Peach.

Alan Hovhaness

calls for an alto in his ballet The Wooden Prince (as well as tenor and baritones saxes).

Béla Bartók

employs an alto in his 1989 opera New Year (as well as soprano, tenor and baritone saxes).

Michael Tippett

wrote an alto feature for the first track of his 2012 album Six Pieces for Orchestra.

Tony Banks

calls for two altos in his Ebony Concerto (as well as two tenors and a baritone).

Igor Stravinsky

The alto saxophone has a large classical solo repertoire that includes solos with orchestra, piano, and wind symphony. Two important solo compositions are Jacques Ibert's "Concertino da Camera" and Alexander Glazunov's "Concerto in E Flat major".


The alto saxophone is found in the standard instrumentation of concert bands and saxophone quartets. Alexander Glazunov composed his Saxophone Quartet in B-flat major in 1932.


The alto saxophone is sometimes used in orchestral music. Some of the compositions where it appears are listed below.